The benefits of Detoxification to various drugs

June 18, 2015

The benefits of Detoxification to various drugs: The process it takes to detox

The benefits of Detoxification to various drugs is the starting point of a meaningful treatment of drug addiction

With the advent of drug addiction in our societies, efforts are being made every day to deliver lasting solutions to this problem of drug addiction. One of the treatment processes of drug addiction is detoxification which is seen to be the first step. Of course this comes after the patient has come to the acknowledgement of the problem thereby giving the authority to commence any meaningful recovery treatment process. Somebody ones ask me that “what are the benefits of detoxification to various drugs if the victim is in denial?” surely this is worthy and we want to build on it to establish the real benefits that will come as a result of detoxification process. We are privileged to have Dr. Akoury, a veteran expert in addiction, MD and also the founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center which is one of the leading pioneers in natural and holistic addiction treatment in US to take us through the discussion of unlocking the truths about the benefits of detoxification to various drugs. This expert has been of help to many in her over two decades of practice and she will be the same to you. All you need to do on your part is to schedule for an appointment with her now for the commencement of your journey to drug addiction recovery.

And now to the discussion doctor Akoury says that medical detoxification is a process that applicable in the systematic and safe withdrawals of people from addictive drugs. The process of detoxification is not a home-made thing but it is a medical process which is usually done under the care of a physician. It is important to note that drinking alcohol or using drugs can cause physical dependence over time and stopping them can result in withdrawal symptoms in people with this dependence. The detoxification process is therefore designed to eliminate the immediate bodily effects of stopping drug use and to remove toxins left in the body as a result of the chemicals found in drugs being abused or alcohol.

The benefits of Detoxification to various drugs: The plat form of doing detoxification

It is important to note that this treatment process of detoxification is done in close supervision by the physicians and it can be done on both an outpatient basis at mental health centers, addiction clinics or private clinics or inpatient at a hospital or residential treatment center.

Inpatient detoxification allows the patient to be closely monitored, prevents use of the substance of abuse, and can speed up the process of detoxification.
Outpatient detoxification has the advantage of being less disruptive to the patient’s life and less expensive.

The choice of setting depends on many factors such as the drug of abuse, amount and length of history of abuse, psychosocial issues, patient’s age, and co-existing medical and/or psychiatric conditions among others. While treatment centers often have their own detoxification facilities, others make arrangements for their patients to use detoxification programs at nearby sites, including hospitals and clinics. There are several substance of abuse but for the purpose of our understanding of the importance of detoxification doctor Dalal Akoury is going to shade some light on the following:

Alcohol detoxification
Cocaine detoxification and
Opiate detoxification

The benefits of Detoxification to various drugs: Alcohol Detoxification

We have already mentioned that medical detoxification is a process that is used to systematically and safely withdraw people from addicting drugs, usually under the care of a physician. And that drinking alcohol or using drugs can cause physical dependence over time and stopping them can result in withdrawal symptoms in people with this dependence. We also mentioned that the detoxification process is designed to treat the immediate bodily effects of stopping drug use and to remove toxins left in the body as a result of the chemicals found in drugs or in alcohol.

The intensity of the problem is that many patients struggling with drug addiction are experiencing mild to moderate symptoms during withdrawal from alcohol and can undergo detoxification without medications if they receive supportive care and monitoring. However experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center conquers that inpatient medical detoxification services are the most appropriate for alcoholics who are at risk for serious complications of withdrawal or those with co-existing medical conditions. In consultation with your doctor, it is advisable that these patients and those with previous alcohol withdrawal seizures, delirium tremens, or moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms should receive benzodiazepines to reduce the risk of adverse events. Remember that other than benzodiazepines, other medications have also been used in the detoxification process including clonidine, which can help reduce symptoms such as tremor, mild depression, elevated blood pressure, anxiety and tension, and carbamazepine, an anticonvulsant medication used to prevent seizures or delirium.

Even though time spent with the doctor is the only difference between inpatient and outpatient detoxification, studies has established recently that, outpatient detoxification has also shown to be as effective as inpatient treatment and less costly for people with less severe alcoholism. This requires daily follow-up and monitoring. It is therefore worth noting that outpatient detoxification is commonly performed by using a tranquilizer such as chlordiazepoxide 50 mg, oxazepam 15 to 30 mg, diazepam 10 mg, or lorazepam 2 mg every 6 hours for the first 24 hours. However additional medication can be provided as is medically necessary and doses can be decreased as symptoms resolve. Supportive care for patients undergoing detoxification includes providing treatment for nutritional and electrolyte deficiencies, monitoring withdrawal severity and abstinence, and providing referrals to alcoholism recovery programs and self-help meetings. All these are services that on scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury will all be at your disposal.

Finally we have only discussed alcohol detoxification in this article, nevertheless we are going to continue with the discussion with the remaining two in our next article and I know you don’t want to miss that too. In the meantime it is also important to note that doctor Akoury is also running projects including trainings through organized conferences for professionals in the addiction discipline. Currently AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, one of the leading pioneers in natural and holistic addiction treatment, will be conducting the first Educational, Functional and Integrative Addiction conference for doctors, counselors, nurses and addiction therapists. The conference will be August 23-25 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. This new frontier in Addiction Medicine will be conducted by the most influential group of leading visionaries specializing in the latest advances in natural and integrative addiction medicine, under the theme “The Future of Integrative Addiction”. This is an opportunity you don’t want to miss, for more information you can log in to www.integrativeaddiction2015.com or email sharon@integrativeaddiction2015.com. We will be glad to have you in the conference and it will be great to learn from the best of the best who are specializing in the latest advances in natural and integrative addiction medicine.

The benefits of Detoxification to various drugs: The process it takes to detox

Overcoming the challenges of defeating Alcohol Addiction

May 30, 2015

Overcoming the challenges of defeating Alcohol Addiction: What does my friend have to do to get help?

Overcoming the challenges of defeating Alcohol Addiction will be effective with the embracing of group therapies.

Not long ago we posted an article tailored specifically to inform the public on the best ways they can adopt towards helping an alcoholic recover from alcoholism. In that article we noted that most of our friends are suffering with alcoholism and it became evident that we have to pool together to reduce their suffering. You may want to make reference to that article even as we settle on overcoming the challenges of defeating alcohol addiction. As a concern friend you noticed that your friend is not behaving normally and you suspect that he is struggling with alcohol addiction problem. You are convicted that you need to do something to help and I am encouraged that we have concern people live you. How I wish they were many of them. But anyway experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are very much supportive of people like you and I would encourage you from the onset that talking to these professional lead by doctor Dalal Akoury who is also the founder of the facility. Meanwhile one of the biggest challenges to overcome in an attempt of defeating alcohol addiction is dealing with the problem of denial. The genesis of all treatment success is acceptance of the problem at hand unfortunately many people are in denial. Therefore if you have a friend you want to help with his or her alcohol addiction problem, you’ve got to start with making them to willingly acknowledge the presence of the problem they have. It is very important that to get better and recover well, your friend has to get some help to stop drinking or using the other drugs he may be using.

Doctor Akoury admits that facing such a problem and asking for help can be a scary thing to do. For the best to come out your friend will have to take an honest look at where drinking or abuse of other drugs has brought him or her. With that evaluation done honestly, the next step would be consent or admitting that it has caused them emotional and maybe physical pain as well. Your friend will have to see that it has robbed him or her of real friends, creativity, happiness, spirit, the respect of others, and even self-respect, and that it keeps your friend from growing up. It is also important to appreciate that one cannot solve the problem of drug addiction by themselves and therefore the help of experienced professionals would be very I deal, like for instance the services of a good counselor will support your friend and direct him or her to the kind of treatment and support groups that are most helpful.

Overcoming the challenges of defeating Alcohol Addiction: Talking to the various Support groups

Like we have mentioned before not individual can single handedly go it alone in overcoming the challenges of defeating alcohol addiction. As a means of helping your friend in this fight, it would be very important that you encourage your friend to talk to other people with drinking and other drug problems particularly those who are now in the recovery process. You could look for those who have passed through programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA). These groups are confidential, self-help organizations that offer assistance to anyone who has a drinking or other drug problem and wants to do something about it. AA and NA members are recovering alcoholics and addicts, so they have a special understanding of each other.

Take note that talking with others who have experienced similar problems is an important part of recovery. New members are encouraged to stay away from alcohol or other drugs “one day at a time.” The good news is that there is no fee for membership in these organizations. If your friend is afraid to go to a meeting alone, that is normal and don’t take offence about that instead be supportive and go along with him or her to an “open” meeting. Friends and family members are welcome to attend this type of meeting, and there are meetings in most neighborhoods or communities.

If your friend has a drinking or other drug problem, you may be the only one willing to reach out and help. Your friend may not appreciate your help right away, or he or she may realize it means you really care. Ultimately, it’s up to your friend to get help. It is not your responsibility to make that happen. In fact, you can’t make that happen. All you can do is talk to your friend, show how much you care, and encourage him or her to get help. Your concern and support might be just what is needed to help your friend turn his or her life around. However, if your friend is in serious trouble with alcohol or other drugs, and you have been unable to get your friend to get help on his or her own, you should consider speaking with your friend’s parents or guardian. The potential consequences to your friend’s life can be too severe to do nothing.

You cannot force someone you love to stop abusing alcohol. As much as you may want to, and as hard as it is to watch, you cannot make someone stop drinking. The choice is up to them.
Don’t expect the person to stop drinking and stay sober without help. Your loved one will need treatment, support, and new coping skills to overcome a serious drinking problem.
Recovery is an ongoing process. Recovery is a bumpy road, requiring time and patience. An alcoholic will not magically become a different person once sober. And the problems that led to the alcohol abuse in the first place will have to be faced.

Admitting that there’s a serious problem can be painful for the whole family, not just the alcohol abuser. But don’t be ashamed. You’re not alone. Alcoholism and alcohol abuse affects millions of families, from every social class, race, and culture. But there is help and support available for both you and your loved one and that is why doctor Akoury founded this establishment (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) to help you go through all these challenges. And for that reason you can now schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury for the commencement of your recovery journey.

Overcoming the challenges of defeating Alcohol Addiction: What does my friend have to do to get help?

Implications of alcoholism to family Domestic Violence

May 29, 2015

Implications of alcoholism to family Domestic Violence: Also threats to body organs

Implications of alcoholism to family Domestic Violence is becoming realistic and the experience is one that none would want to associate with

When there is the element or traces of alcohol consumption in any given family, chances are that, peace will be very elusive in such an environment. It may not matter who is the victim, so long as the common denominator is miss use of alcohol tables will have to be turn upside down for peace and tranquility to prevail. This can only serve to confirm the implications of alcoholism to family domestic violence. And for the a voidances of doubt says doctor Dalal Akoury alcoholic households are less cohesive and have endless conflicts, and members of such families are less independent and expressive than households with nonalcoholic or recovering alcoholic parents. Domestic violence is a common consequence of alcohol abuse across the globe and that is why you and I must pool together to bring this scourge to manageable levels.

Experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center have for the past two decades been studying the effects of alcohol and particularly to the domestic violence and their findings does not miss the point, it has been established that when it comes to domestic violence, women and children are the major losers. A lot of abusive men when under the influence of alcohol are very violent and beat up their spouses and children recklessly and disorderly. Like for instance:

The Effect on Women – this is a serious risk factor for injury from domestic violence and in many cases the injury are inflicted by the male partner under the influence of alcohol.

The Effect on Children – Alcoholism in parents also increases the risk for violent behavior and abuse toward children. Children of alcoholics tend to do worse academically than others, have a higher incidence of depression, anxiety, and stress and low self-esteem than their peers. In addition to their own inherited risk for later alcoholism, many children of alcoholics have serious coping problems that may last their entire life. Adult children of alcoholic parents are at higher risk for divorce and for psychiatric symptoms. One study concluded that the only events with greater psychological impact on children are sexual and physical abuse.

Implications of alcoholism to family Domestic Violence: Increased Risk for Other Addictions

Over the years researchers are finding common genetic factors in alcohol and nicotine addiction, which may explain, in part, why most alcoholics are often smokers as well. Doctor Akoury reiterates that alcoholics who smoke are actually compounding their health problems probably into calamities. In fact, some studies indicate that people who are alcohol-dependent and smoke all at the same time are more likely to die of smoking-related illnesses than alcohol-related conditions. Abuse of other drugs is also common among alcoholics. This is a very technical health problem is I may say. Alcohol and cigarette are never friends and bringing them into your health can only be said for luck of better adjective to be very dangerous. In instances like this doctor Akoury recommends that the patient or their loved ones must take immediate initiative of enrolling such individuals for treatment. And besides the domestic violence, miss use of alcohol also has savvier consequences on the various body organs.

Implications of alcoholism to family Domestic Violence: Liver Disorders

Alcoholic Hepatitis and Cirrhosis – Alcohol is absorbed in the small intestine and passes directly into the liver, where it becomes the preferred energy source. The liver is particularly endangered by alcoholism. In the liver, alcohol converts to toxic chemicals, notably acetaldehyde, which trigger the production of immune factors called cytokines. In large amounts, these factors cause inflammation and tissue injury.

Even moderate alcohol intake can produce pain in the upper right quarter of the abdomen a possible symptom of liver involvement. In many cases, such symptoms may be an indication of fatty liver or alcohol hepatitis, which are reversible liver conditions.

It is estimated that between 10 – 20% of people who drink heavily (five or more drinks a day) develop cirrhosis, a progressive and irreversible scarring of the liver that can eventually be fatal. Alcoholic cirrhosis (also sometimes referred to as portal, Laennec’s, nutritional, or micronodular cirrhosis) is the primary cause of cirrhosis in the U.S.

Not eating when drinking and consuming a variety of alcoholic beverages increase the risk for liver damage. Obesity also increases the risk for all stages of liver disease.

Hepatitis B and C – People with alcoholism may have lifestyles that put them at higher risk for hepatitis B and C. Chronic forms of viral hepatitis pose risks for cirrhosis and liver cancer, and alcoholism significantly increases these risks. It is therefore very important that people with alcoholism problem should be immunized against hepatitis B. since at the moment there is still no vaccine for hepatitis C says doctor Dalal Akoury.

Implications of alcoholism to family Domestic Violence: Gastrointestinal Problems

Alcoholism can cause many problems in the gastrointestinal tract. Violent vomiting can produce tears in the junction between the stomach and esophagus. It increases the risk for ulcers, particularly in people taking the painkillers known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or ibuprofen. It can also lead to swollen veins in the esophagus, (called varices), and to inflammation of the esophagus (esophagitis) and bleeding.

Alcohol can contribute to serious acute and chronic inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) in people who are susceptible to this condition. There is some evidence of a higher risk for pancreatic cancer in people with alcoholism, although this higher risk may occur only in people who are also smokers. Finally dear reader from this article we are not able to discuss all the other body organs that are affected by alcohol and cigarette addiction. We will progress with quite a number in our subsequent articles and that is a discussion you don’t want to miss. However in the meantime you can schedule for an appointment with the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury and she will be able to individually evaluate your condition and administer treatment professionally not just on matters torching on alcohol addiction but even on all other substance of abuse.

Implications of alcoholism to family Domestic Violence: Also threats to body organs

Understanding Detoxification as an alternative medicine

April 11, 2015

Understanding Detoxification as an alternative medicine: The Purpose as it is

Understanding Detoxification as an alternative medicine. It helps to know what to do when you are intoxicated

In the current world of pollution everywhere life has become very difficult to manage especially when it comes to health. A lot of health problems are registered on a daily basis thanks to the effect of our polluted environment. Experts now say that time has come when we have to do things differently in order to remedy the situation. To do this the starting point would be understanding detoxification as an alternative medicine and appreciating its purpose in saving lives. By definition, detoxification is one of the most widely used treatments and concepts in alternative medicine. It is primarily based on the principle that illness can be caused by an accumulation of toxic substances (toxins) in the body. Eliminating existing toxins and avoiding new toxins are essential parts of the healing process. Detoxification utilizes a variety of tests and techniques which we will consider as we progress into the discussion say doctor Dalal Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center.

Understanding Detoxification as an alternative medicine: The Purpose of detoxification

Being an alternative medicine, detoxification is very helpful for those patients suffering from many chronic diseases and conditions, including allergies, anxiety, arthritis, asthma, chronic infections, depression, diabetes, headaches, heart disease, high cholesterol, low blood sugar levels, digestive disorders, mental illness, and obesity.

It is also helpful for those suffering from conditions that are influenced by environmental factors like cancer, as well as for those who have been exposed to high levels of toxic materials due to accident or occupation.

Detoxification therapy is useful for those suffering from allergies or immune system problems that conventional medicine is unable to diagnose or treat, including chronic fatigue syndrome, environmental illness/multiple chemical sensitivity, and fibromyalgia.

Symptoms for those suffering these conditions may include unexplained fatigue, increased allergies, hypersensitivity to common materials, intolerance to certain foods and indigestion, aches and pains, low grade fever, headaches, insomnia, depression, sore throats, sudden weight loss or gain, lowered resistance to infection, general malaise, and disability.

Detoxification can be used as a beneficial preventative measure and as a tool to increase overall health, vitality and resistance to disease.

Understanding Detoxification as an alternative medicine: Description and Origins

Detoxification methods of healing have been used for thousands of years. Fasting is one of the oldest therapeutic practices in medicine. Hippocrates, the ancient Greek known as the “Father of Western medicine,” recommended fasting as a means for improving health. Ayurveda medicine, a traditional healing system that has developed over thousands of years, utilizes detoxification methods to treat many chronic conditions and to prevent illness.

Detoxification treatment has become one of the cornerstones of alternative medicine. Conventional medicine notes that environmental factors can play a significant role in many illnesses. Environmental medicine is a field that studies exactly how those environmental factors influence disease. Conditions such as asthma, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity and many others are strongly influenced by exposure to toxic or allergenic substances in the environment.

Detoxification has also become a prominent treatment as people have become more aware of environmental pollution. It is estimated that one in every four Americans suffers from some level of heavy metal poisoning. Heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic, are by-products of industry. Synthetic agriculture chemicals, many of which are known to cause health problems, are also found in food, air, and water. Like for instance in American agriculture sector uses nearly 10lb (4.5 kg) of pesticides per person on the food supply each year. These toxins have become almost unavoidable. Pesticides that are used only on crops in the southern United States have been found in the tissue of animals in the far north of Canada. DDT, a cancer-causing insecticide that has been banned for decades, is still regularly found in the fatty tissue of animals, birds, and fish, even in extremely remote regions such as the North Pole. What does this communicate to you? It simply means that we must appreciate the understanding of detoxification as an alternative medicine and embraced it so that we can eliminate all the toxics from our body systems.

Understanding Detoxification as an alternative medicine: The environmental problems

The problem of toxins in the environment is compounded because humans are at the top of the food chain and are more likely to be exposed to an accumulation of toxic substances in the food supply. For instance, pesticides and herbicides are sprayed on grains that are then fed to farm animals. Toxic substances are stored in the fatty tissue of those animals. In addition, those animals are often injected with synthetic hormones, antibiotics, and other chemicals. When people consume the meat products, they are exposed to the full range of chemicals and additives used along the entire agricultural chain.

Detoxification specialists call this build-up of toxins bioaccumulation. They assert that the bioaccumulation of toxic substances over time is responsible for many physical and mental disorders especially ones that are increasing rapidly (like asthma, cancer, and mental illness). As a result, detoxification therapies are increasing in importance and popularity.

Toxins in the body include heavy metals and various chemicals such as pesticides, pollutants, and food additives. Drugs and alcohol have toxic effects in the body. Toxins are produced as normal by-products in the intestines by the bacteria that break down food. The digestion of protein also creates toxic by-products in the body.

The body has natural methods of detoxification. Individual cells get detoxified in the lymph and circulatory system and the liver is the principle organ of detoxification, assisted by the kidneys and intestines. Toxins can be excreted from the body by the kidneys, bowels, skin, and lungs. Detoxification treatments become necessary when the body’s natural detoxification systems become overwhelmed. This can be caused by long-term effects of improper diet, stress, overeating, sedentary lifestyles, illness, and poor health habits in general. When a build-up of toxic substances in the body creates illness, it’s called toxemia. Some people’s digestive tracts become unable to digest food properly, due to years of overeating and diets that are high in fat and processed foods and low in fiber. When this happens, food cannot pass through the digestive tract efficiently. Instead of being digested properly or eliminated from the bowel, food can literally rot inside the digestive tract and produce toxic by-products. This state is known as toxic colon syndrome or intestinal toxemia.

Doctor Akoury says that detoxification therapies try to activate and assist the body’s own detoxification processes. They also try to eliminate additional exposure to toxins and strengthen the body and immune system so that toxic imbalances won’t occur in the future. We are going to continue with this discussion in the next article, but in the meantime, if you have any concern relating to detoxification, you may schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today for professional clarification.

Understanding Detoxification as an alternative medicine: The Purpose as it is

What is Detoxification?

April 10, 2012

What is Detoxification?

Detoxification or more commonly known as detoxing is the act of removing toxins from the body. In which the body returns to homeostasis after the long term us of addictive substances. Detoxification can be achieved by the use of antidotes as well as chelation therapy. Alternative medicines promote other types of detoxification such as diets, which may be wasted money to some.

There are many reasons for detoxification such as but not limited to:

Alcohol Detoxification
Drug Detoxification
Metabolic Detoxification
Alternative Medicine

Alcohol Detoxification: Process in which a heavy drinker’s system is brought back to normal after being used to having alcohol on a normal basis. GABA is reduced in serious addictions to alcohol as alcohol acts as a replacement. Without medical care long-term withdrawal can cause serious health problems and could result in death. After the detoxification process, other treatments should be sought to deal with the addiction.

Drug Detoxification: Used to reduce or relieve withdrawal symptoms. This is not to be used as an alternative to treat the addiction but as a step in long-term treatment. Often this kind of detoxification is done in a community program taking several months to complete. People undergoing this type of detox also inquire about counseling as well as therapy during the detox.

Metabolic Detoxification:

Alternative Medicine: Certain approaches remove toxins through herbal, electrical or electromagnetic treatments. Under this type of detox if toxins are released too rapid without being safely eliminated it can cause damage through the body. Therapies used include: contrast showers, body cleansing, and oil pulling.

Here at AWAREmed, we use Chelation Therapy which is a process in which a powerful antioxidant (a synthetic amino acid) called EDTA is delivered intravenously (Into the veins). Chelation comes from the Greek word “chelate” which means claw and apparently refers to the alleged removal of plaque and calcium deposits from arteries and veins by EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid).

Tag Archives: Alcohol Detoxification